Selecting, Training and Shepherding Leaders

An episode of the Reformed Thinking podcast, hosted by Edison Wu, titled "Selecting, Training and Shepherding Leaders" was published on March 17, 2026 and runs 28 minutes.

March 17, 2026 ·28m · Reformed Thinking

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Summary

Deep Dive into Growth Groups: How to Lead Disciple-Making Small Groups by Colin Marshall - Selecting, Training and Shepherding LeadersThe effectiveness of a church's small group ministry directly depends on the quality of its leadership. Therefore, pastors must prioritize the careful selection and training of lay leaders, which allows the church to grow beyond the 100 to 150 members a single pastor can effectively manage. By developing a team of volunteer leaders who act much like the tent-making elders seen in the New Testament, churches can expand their pastoral care without exhausting financial resources.Despite these benefits, pastors often neglect training because they are overwhelmed by immediate programmatic demands and physical resource management, such as building renovations or budgets. Furthermore, church leaders frequently adopt a need-driven approach, desperately recruiting people simply to fill gaps in existing programs. Instead, churches should be resource-driven, focusing on developing members' specific gifts and passions, which allows new and relevant ministries to naturally evolve.When selecting potential leaders, pastors should observe individuals who already exert a positive, informal influence on others and possess a servant heart. Ideal candidates are those who actively encourage others, engage deeply with scripture and theology, and maintain a blameless reputation regarding their personal godliness.Once identified, these individuals should be trained through an apprenticeship model rather than a traditional classroom setting. Because ministry skills and values are caught rather than just taught, trainees learn best by observing a trainer lead a group, practicing the skills themselves, and receiving constructive feedback. Finally, the training process does not end once a leader takes charge of a group. Pastors must continue to shepherd their leaders through regular meetings to provide ongoing encouragement, pray together, and address any personal or group challenges.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730

Episode Description

Deep Dive into Growth Groups: How to Lead Disciple-Making Small Groups by Colin Marshall - Selecting, Training and Shepherding Leaders

The effectiveness of a church's small group ministry directly depends on the quality of its leadership. Therefore, pastors must prioritize the careful selection and training of lay leaders, which allows the church to grow beyond the 100 to 150 members a single pastor can effectively manage. By developing a team of volunteer leaders who act much like the tent-making elders seen in the New Testament, churches can expand their pastoral care without exhausting financial resources.

Despite these benefits, pastors often neglect training because they are overwhelmed by immediate programmatic demands and physical resource management, such as building renovations or budgets. Furthermore, church leaders frequently adopt a need-driven approach, desperately recruiting people simply to fill gaps in existing programs. Instead, churches should be resource-driven, focusing on developing members' specific gifts and passions, which allows new and relevant ministries to naturally evolve.

When selecting potential leaders, pastors should observe individuals who already exert a positive, informal influence on others and possess a servant heart. Ideal candidates are those who actively encourage others, engage deeply with scripture and theology, and maintain a blameless reputation regarding their personal godliness.

Once identified, these individuals should be trained through an apprenticeship model rather than a traditional classroom setting. Because ministry skills and values are caught rather than just taught, trainees learn best by observing a trainer lead a group, practicing the skills themselves, and receiving constructive feedback. Finally, the training process does not end once a leader takes charge of a group. Pastors must continue to shepherd their leaders through regular meetings to provide ongoing encouragement, pray together, and address any personal or group challenges.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainer

Spotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdw

https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730